Musical Moments – Andreas Ottensamer performs Julien Quentin Horovitz’ Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano - II. Lento, quasi andante

“Musical moments” can be moments of memories or reflection, a retrospect of the past or an anticipation of the future, that are enriched by hearing or thinking of a special piece of music in that same moment. Further artists in the series include Daniel Barenboim, Yuja Wang, Nadine Sierra, Avi Avital and Albrecht Mayer just to name a few.

When it comes to the clarinet, we tend to long for music that features effortless legato, endless melodic lines and a certain airiness. “Lento, quasi andante”, the second movement of the Clarinet Sonatina by nonagenarian composer Joseph Horovitz, showcases these qualities as profoundly as any of the better-known masterpieces written for the instrument in earlier times – and who to better exemplify the deep musicianship to make this instrument sing than Andreas Ottensamer, principal clarinettist of the Berlin Philharmonic?